Chap. 7. 



POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS. 



Ill 



CONSTITUTION OF VERMONT. 



FRAME OF GOVERNMENT. 



Sect. 6. The legislative, executive, 

 and judiciary departments sliall be separ- 

 ate and distinct, so that neitiicr exercise 

 the powers properly belonging to the 

 other. 



Sect. 7. In order that the freemen of 

 this state might enjoy the benefit of elec- 

 tion as equally as maybe, each town within 

 this stat(>, that consists or may consist of 

 eighty taxable inhabitants, within one sep- 

 tenary or seven years next after the estab- 

 lishing this constitution, may hold elec- 

 tions therein, and choose, each, two rep- 

 resentatives ; and each other inhabited 

 town in this state, may, in like manner, 

 choose one representative, to represent 

 them in general assembly, during the sep- 

 tenary or seven years. And after that, 

 each inhabited town may, in like manner, 

 hold such election, and choose one repre- 

 sentative, forever thereafter. 



Sect. 8. The house of representatives 

 of the freemen of this state shall consist 

 of persons most noted for wisdom and vir- 

 tue, to be chosen by ballot by the freemen 

 of every town in this state, respectively, 

 on the first Tuesday of September, annu- 

 ally, forever. 



Sect. !). The representatives so chosen, 

 (a majority of wiiom shall constitute a 

 quorum for transacting any other business 

 than raising a state tax, for which two- 

 thirds of the members elected shall be 

 present,) shall meet on the second Thurs- 

 day of the succeeding October, and shall 

 be styled, Tlie General Asscmbltj of the 

 State of Vermont ; they shall have pow- 

 er to choose their speaker, secretary of 

 state, their clerk, and other necessary 

 officers of the house ; sit on their own 

 adjournments; prepare bills and enact 

 them into laws; judge of the elections 

 and qualifications of their own members: 

 they may expel members, but not for 

 causes known to their constituents ante- 

 cedent to their election ; tiiey may ad- 

 minister oatlis and affirmations in matters 

 depending bcfjre them ; redress grievan- 

 ces ; impeach state criminals ; grant char- 

 ters of incorporation ; constitute towns, 

 boroughs, cities, and counties : they may, 

 annually, on their first session after their 

 election, in conjunction with the council, 

 ('or oftener if need be) elect judg(!s of the 

 su|)re)ne and several county and probate 

 courts, sheriffs and justices of the ])eace ; 

 and also, with the council, may elect uia- 

 jor-generals and brigadier-generals, from 

 time to time, as often as there shall be oc- 

 casion ; and they shall have all other 

 powers necessary for the legislature of a 

 free and sov(>reign state. But they shall 

 havi- no power to add to, alter, abolish, or 

 infringe any part of this constitution. 



Sect. 10. The supreme executive coun- 

 cil of this state shall consist of a governor, 

 lieutenant governor, and twelve persons, 

 chosen in the following manner, to wit : — 

 the freemen of each town shall, on the 

 day of election for choosing representa- 

 tives to attend the gen(;ral assembly, bring 

 in their votes for governor, with his name 

 fairly written, to the constable, who shall 

 seal them up, and write on them, '■^ Voles 

 for Governor," and deliver them to the 

 representative chosen to attend the gen- 

 eral assembly. And at the opening of 

 the general assembly there shall lie a com- 

 mittee appointed, out of the council and 

 assembly, who, after being duly sworn to 

 the faithful discharge of their trust, shall 

 proceed to receive, sort, and count tlie 

 votes for the governor, and declare the 

 person who has the major part of the 

 votes, to be governor for the year ensuing. 

 And if there be no choice made, then the 

 council and general assembly', by their 

 joint-ballots, shall make choice of a gov- 

 ernor. The lieutenant governor and treas- 

 urer shall be chosen in tlie manner above 

 directed. And each freeman shall give 

 in twelve votes for twelve councillors, in 

 the same manner, and the twelve highest 

 in nomination shall serve, for the ensuing 

 year, as councillors. 



Sect. 11. The governor, and in his 

 absence the lieutenant governor, with the 

 council (a major part of whom, including 

 the governor or lieutenant governor, shall 

 be a quorum to transact business) shall 

 have power to commission all officers, and 

 also to appoint officers, except where pro- 

 vision is or shall be otherwise made by 

 law, or this frame of government ; and 

 shall supply every vacancy in any office, 

 occasioned by death or otherwise, until 

 the office can be filled in the manner di- 

 rected by law, or this constitution : — 



They are to correspond with other 

 states; transact business with officers of 

 government, civil and militar}', and to pre- 

 pare such business as may appear to them 

 necessary to lay before the general as- 

 sembly: they shall sit as judges to hear 

 and determine on impeachments, taking to 

 their assistance, for advice only, the j udges 

 of the supreme court; and shall have 

 power to grant pardons and remit fines, 

 in all cases whatsoever, except in treason 

 and murder, in which they shall have 

 power to grant reprieves, but not to par- 

 don until after the end of the next session 

 of assembly; and excef>t in cases of im- 

 peachment, in which there shall be no 

 remission or mitigation of punishment, 

 but by act of legislation : they are to take 

 care that the laws be faithfully executed : 

 they are to expedite the execution of such 



